HEMP SEED: THE MOST NUTRITIONALLY
COMPLETE FOOD SOURCE IN THE WORLD
Part One

by Lynn Osburn

Seeds of the plant cannabis sativa, hemp seed, contain all
the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids necessary to
maintain healthy human life. No other single plant source has
the essential amino acids in such an easily digestible form, nor
has the essential fatty acids in as perfect a ratio to meet human
nutritional needs.

The importance of hemp seed nutrients to human health cannot be
fully appreciated without some understanding of bio-chemistry in
life. Unfortunately, any attempt to understand the flow of life
leads into the realm of the most troublesome of the three
infinities -- the infinitely complex.

Some deep thinkers believe life is a paradox not to be understood
but experienced to the fullest. However, the Sages have said,
"Know thyself." At any rate it is paradoxic to attempt simplifying
the infinite complexity of flowing life. Yet, it is far better
for the health and development of any thinking and feeling,
uniquely individual human being, to pursue knowledge than to
lounge in ignorance.

One out of two Americans win die from the effects of
cardiovascular disease (CVD). One out of four Americans will
die from cancer. Researchers believe cancers erupt when
immune system response is weakened. Pioneers in the fields
of biochemistry and human nutrition now believe CVD and
most cancers are really diseases of fatty degeneration caused
by the continued over-consumption of saturated fats and
refined vegetable oils that turn essential fatty acids into
carcinogenic killers. And if this is not scary enough, more
Americans are succumbing to immune deficiency diseases than
ever before. Sadly it is ignorance of human nutritional needs
that will cause this overwhelming majority of Americans to die
slowly from these afflictions -- the greatest killers in affluent
nations.

HEMP SEED PROTEINS AND THE
BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE AND IMMUNITY

There are eight amino acids the human body cannot make and two
more the body cannot make in sufficient quantity, so they are
essential to life. A diet without any one of them will
eventually cause disease and death. These essential amino
acids, along with eleven others the body can make from them,
are chained together in accordance to genetic guidelines, via
RNA formats from DNA blueprints, into structural proteins that
give body to life, and into enzymes (globular proteins) that
carry out the mechanics of living.

Nearly three quarters of body solids are proteins. The body
is literally constructed and maintained by an infinitely
complex system that simply builds proteins from amino acid
sub units. Every amino acid consists of an amine and a
carboxyl bound to the same carbon atom. All but the smallest
amino acid have one, more or less complex, carbon containing
side chain connected to the carbon atom shared by the amine
and carboxyl groups. The amine group, ND, is slightly
basic; the carboxyl group, COOH, is a mild acid. The amine
group of one amino acid unites with the carboxyl group of
another forming a peptide link. Proteins are made of amino
acid peptide chains in specific sequences. The number of
possible amino acid peptide combinations is infinite.

Peptide chains can bend, twist and unite with other peptide
chains by forming weak hydrogen bonds between nitrogen and
oxygen atoms along the chain. Amino acids can also form
bonds through side chain linkages. All three types of amino
acid bonding methods contribute to the infinite possibility of
protein shapes and reactivity potentials. Though each species
builds proteins unique to itself, life can tailor new ones if
challenged by the pressures of existence.

Hemp is not unique in having all the essential amino acids
in its embryonic seed. Flax seeds also contain all the
essential amino acids as do many other seeds in the plant
kingdom. What is unique about hemp seed protein is that
65% of it is globulin edistin. That is the highest in the
plant kingdom.

Globulins are one of seven classes of simple proteins. Simple
proteins are constructed from amino acids and contain no
non-protein substances. Globulins are in seeds and animal
blood. Edistins are found in seeds; serum globulin is in
blood. Edistins are plant globulins. And globulins along with
albumins are classified as globular proteins. All enzymes,
antibodies, many hormones, hemoglobin and fibrogin (the body
converts fibrogin into non-soluble, fibrin, a blood clotting
agent) are globular proteins. They carry out the main work
of living.

Albumin, globulin and fibrogin are the three major types of
plasma proteins. Plasma is the fluid portion of blood that
supplies nutrients to tissues. And the three protein
types: serum albumin, serum globulin and fibrogin, compose
about 80% of plasma solids. These plasma proteins serve as a
reservoir of rapidly available amino acids should any body
tissues be in need.

Plant seeds contain albumin and globulin but no
fibrogin. Albumin is the nutritive material that fills the
space in the seed between the embryo and the seed coat. The
embryo needs albumin to fuel its initial growth until
photosynthesis begins. Globulin edistins within the embryo
guarantee this new life has the enzymes necessary for metabolic
activity.

Globulin is the third most abundant protein in the human
body. Globulins perform many enzymatic (causing reactions to
take place) functions within the plasma itself. More importantly,
they are responsible for both the natural and acquired immunity a
person has against invading organisms. The body uses globulin
proteins to make antibodies which attack infecting agents
(antigens) that invade the body. Globulins like gamma globulin
are absolutely essential to maintain a healthy immune
system. They neutralize alien microorganisms and toxins.

Globulins are divided into three classes: alpha, beta and
gamma globulins. Alpha and beta globulins operate as transport
vehicles by combining with other substances and carry protein
from one part of the body to another. They haul the materials
needed to build new and replace worn or damaged bodily
structures. Gamma globulins are divided into five classes of
antibodies called immunoglobulins. All are formed to combat
specific cell invading antigens. They comprise the body's
first line of defense against disease and
infection. Immunoglobulins are produced by B lymphocyte (white
blood cells) plasma cell clones located in lymph system
nodes. Infecting antigens normally must pass through the
lymph system before entering the blood stream.

Regarding human protein requirement: "Qualitively, it is
considered desirable to secure amino acids similar to those
of human tissues, both as to kinds and relative quantities
of the various kinds." [Textbook of Anatomy and Physiology,
Kimber, Gray, Stackpole, 1943]

During digestion proteins in food are broken down into amino
acids. The amino acids are then taken into the body and
reassembled into human proteins according to need and the
availability of the amino acids necessary to make specific
proteins.

The body needs the necessary kinds of amino acids in
sufficient quantity in order to make proteins such as the
globulins. Proper quantities of the right kinds may not be
available to the body much of the time. So even though the
body has enough essential amino acids available to prevent
deficiency diseases, it may not have enough to build quantities
of immunoglobulins necessary for the immune system to repel
infection.

The best way to insure the body has enough amino acid material
to make the globulins is to eat foods high in globulin
proteins. Since hemp seed protein is 65% globulin edistin, and
also includes quantities of albumin, its protein is readily
available in a form quite similar to that found in blood
plasma. Eating hemp seeds gives the body all the essential
amino acids required to maintain health, and provides the
necessary kinds and amounts of amino acids the body needs to
make human serum albumin and serum globulins like the immune
enhancing gamma globulins. Eating hemp seeds could aid, if
not heal, people suffering from immune deficiency
diseases. This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp
seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on by
tuberculosis, a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes
the body to waste away. [Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional
Study, 1955]

ANTIBODIES

Antibodies are globulin proteins programmed to destroy
antigens (any substance eliciting a response from
lymphocytes: bacteria, viruses, toxins, living and dead
tissue, internal debris, etc.). Circulating in blood plasma
like mines floating in a harbor antibodies await contact
with the enemy, then initiate a cascade of corrosive
enzymes that bore holes in the antigen surface causing it to
break apart.

Antibodies are custom designed to neutralize or disintegrate
one specific type of antigen. White blood cells called B
cell lymphocytes seek out and lock-on to antigenic proteins
or sugars on the invader's surface. The B cell then uses
that lock and key pattern to make antibodies tailored to
that antigen only. It also will make clones of itself
called plasma cells. Most of the clones begin producing
antibodies for that antigen. Others become memory cells
which may spend years wandering through the blood stream
looking for that specific antigen. If the body is exposed
to it again the memory cells lock-on to one and begin
producing plasma cell clones and a flood of antibodies that
wipe out the invader. One lymphocyte can divide into
hundreds of plasma cells in a few days. A mature plasma
cell can make about 2000 antibodies every second for the
few days it lives. This is how the body acquires immunity.

The body's ability to resist and recover from illness
depends upon how rapidly it can produce massive amounts
of antibodies to fend off the initial attack. If the
globulin protein starting material is in short supply the
army of antibodies may be too small to prevent the
symptoms of sickness from setting in.

Hemp seed is the premier plant-seed provider of
globulin starting material -- the highest in the plant
kingdom. Eating hemp seeds will insure the immune
system has the reservoir of immunoglobulin resources
needed to make disease destroying antibodies.